Protective device for tube envelopes



Aug. 5, 1947.

N. B. KRIM PROTECTIVE I'JBVIOBIOR TU BB BNVBLOPBS Filod'boc. 9. 1943 2 Shuts-Shoot 1 a X T f #6 m NM Y a a m M 2 Shanta-Shoot 2 N. B. KRIM PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR TUBE ENVBLOPES med Dec. 9, 194:

Aug. 5, I947.

Patented Aug. 5, 1947 zazcm mo'rEc'rrvE nEvrcE ron TUBE ENVELOPE Norman B. Krlm, Newton mghlands, Mala, as-

signor, by means assignments, to ltaytheon Manufacturing Company,

Newton, Mass, a

corporation of Delaware Application December 9; 1943, Serial No. 513,570

10 Claims. (Clzso-z'zs) This invention relates to electron discharge tubes, and more particularly to smaller types of said tubes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a tube with a protective reinforcing member adapted compressively to embrace and thus strengthen the entire tube, or a part thereof provided with said reinforcing member.

Another object of the present invention is to.

bodying one illustrative form of the present invention; V

Fig. 2 i a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 4 illustrating the application of the invention .to a tube having relatively rigid conductors bent to increase the spacing of their external contact prongs;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the application of the invention to a tube'having a special arrangement of the sealing and lead-in wires for the same purpose as in Fig. 3; and

Figs. 6, '1 and 8 are vertical cross-sections of additional embodiments of the invention as applied to the "acorn" type of tube.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrative em- 2 polystyrene is eminently suited for this p as it is by nature quite resilient and resistant to shocks. 1

One of the features of the invention consists in the fact that said reinforcing member il surrounds or embraces and tends to compress said press. As the coeiiicient of expansion of the reinforcing material, polystyrene. for example, is considerably greater than that of glass, said reinforcing member, when cooled, will contract considerably more than will the glass andwill thus exert a strong compressive force upon said press 8 at all points of its perimeter. whereby said press will be greatly strengthened, it being well known that when glass is placed under high compression its strength to withstand shock is greatly in-' creased.

In order-to be efllcient, the plastic member II should be relatively thick, but the diameter of said reinforcing member should preferably not exceed that of the tube.

Where relatively stiff conductors proiect from the wall of a tube, for example from the press 0 in Figs. 1 and 2, and are used as contact prongs which are plugged directly into a suitable socket, experience has demonstrated that the glass through which the conductors extend has a tendency to chip or break, if the contact prongs are subjected to any substantial transverse thrust. Such a thrust may on insertion of the prongs in their socket, if they do not correctly and readily fit into the holes in the socket. Great accuracy has therefore been required in the manufacture of the tube and of the socket. Experibodiment of the invention therein shown comprises an envelope 2 of glass or other suitable material within which is suitably supported, the usual electrode assembly 4. A plurality of relatively still conductors t, sealed through an external press I. formed by softening the glass at that point and compressing it around said conductors 6, project from the under surface of said press 0, their free ends serving as external contact prongs.

In accordance with the present invention protective means is provided adapted to protect and reinforce said press I, said means herein comprising a reinforcing member I. of moldalble material preferably a, plastic, attached to said press, in any suitable manner, as by being molded thereon, or being placed thereon and heated to the proper elevated temperature, so that upon cooling said member will be found to be welded to the surface of said press 8. The plastic known asence has also shown that a considerable number of these tubes are rendered undesirable after,

manufacture and in use because of such fracture or breakage. The present invention overcomes the difficulties above set forth, as any thrust on the external prongs will be taken up by the reinforcing member and cannot reach the glass press.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the application of the present invention to tubes in which the entire lead-in wire and contact prong are formed of a single relatively stifl wire. the wire being either pre-bent or post-bent to increase the spacing of the prongs.

Here also .the pre-bent or post-bent conductors are firmly welded in the reinforcing member and any shock or thrust to which the prongs or said member may be subjected will be absorbed by said reinforcing member. It has been demonstrated that the prongs 0 may be bent practically at will without injury to the press I. The thrust on said prongs is absorbed by said reinforcing member and does not extend to said press.

Fig. 5 illustrates the present invention as it can be applied to a tube in which the relatively flexible sealing wires I I (which may be of the type known as Dumet) are bent to enable the contact prongs II of relatively stiff wire to which they are joined, to be more-widely spaced.

In this case the relatively stiff conductors serving as external contact prongs Ii do not extend through the press, but terminate in said reinforcing member. Nevertheless these contact prongs II are so firmly welded and held in said reinforcing member that they function efficiently as external contact prongs, and any shock or thrust to which they may be subjected will not be communicated through them to the press, but will be absorbed by the reinforcing member in which they are anchored and which is by nature quite resilient and resistant to shocks. This makes it possible'to use said relatively stifl conductors as external contact prongs, for which relatively flexible wire is less suited. and on the other hand to use the relatively flexible wire, Dumet type, for example, for sealing through the press.

' In Fig. 6 the invention is shown in its application to tubes of the type known as acorn tubes. These tubes ore provided with a plurality of external lateral contact prongs, onlytwo of which are shown in tin: drawing. In this illustrative embodiment of the invention the tube comprises an envelope of glass or other suitable material made in two parts I! and I8 fused together and containing the usual electrode assembly is and provided with the usual exhaust tip Ii. Relatively flexible sealing wires II are sealed through the lateral wall of said envelope, for example, between the flanges II of said twoparts II and II, the free ends of said-sealing wires ll being joined to the inner ends of relatively stiff conduetors 22 forming external contact prongs. Baid sealing wires It may and preferably will be of the type known as Dumet.

4 forcing member 40 in accordance with the present invention. The reinforcing members 80 and I may be applied in. the same manner as described in case of reinforcing member ll of Figs. 1 and 2, and will eflectively protect and reinforce the parts they cover and add to the general strength of the entire structure.

The addition of the reinforcing member to the tube of Fig. 7 does not increase the standard dimensions of an acorn type tube. This is a distinct advantage as the tube with the reinforcing member will still be interchangeable with previous acorn type tubes.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8 comprises an envelope ll of glass or other suitable material which contains the usual electrode assembly II and is provided with In accordance with the present invention a plastic reinforcing member 24, preferably of polystyrene, encircles said envelope and. completely covers said flanges II of said two parts I2 and It, the. Joined ends of said sealing wires Is and of the conductors I2 being enclosedv within said reinforcing 'member Said reinforcing member 24 may be applied in the same manner as that above described for applying the reinforcing member ll of Figs. 1 and 2 and with the same remarkably advantageous results, and will not only reinforce and protect the points where said sealing wires II are sealed through the wall of envelope l2, namely the flanges II, but by its compressive action upon the wall of the tube, will also reinforce and greatly strengthen the whole tube structure.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7, the tube comprises an envelope 25 of glass or other suitable material, containing the usual electrode assembly II. It is provided with the usual exhaust tip II. Relatively flexible sealing wires 32 have their free ends joined to the inner ends of relatively stiff conductors 34 forming external contact prongs. Said sealing wires 32 may and preferably will beof the type known as Dumet. The plastic reinforcing member 36, of polystyrene for example, encircles the envelope 2i, and the Joined ends of said sealing wires 32 and conductors 34 are enclosed within said reinforcing member 3!. If desired said exhaust tip 38 may be provided with a plastic reina ground-off exhaust tip ll.

Said tubeis madein two parts 38 and II Joined together by outwardly projecting flanges I1 and II.

Lateral conductors ll are sealed in the wall of said envelope, said conductors being herein sealed between said flanges l1 and II vencirclkig said envelope ll. Another conductor ll is sealed through the top wall of said envelope and a further conductor ll is sealed through the exhaust tip 43.

In this illustrative form of the invention the protective, reinforcing member 42 of plastic, preferably polystyrene, in accordance with the present invention, completely encloses said envelope 2!, said groimd-oif exhaust tip 48 and said flanges 31 and 30 out to their edges. Bald reinforcing member I! set forth above in the description of the embodimentshowninl'igs. 1 andflwiththeresultthat said reinforcing member 42 will not only protect and reinforce said flanges II and II, and particw larly those points through which said conductors 4!, 44 and II issue, butby its compressive action fromallsideswillgreatb'addtothestrmgthof the whole structure. In this case. as in the'case of the tube of Fig. 7, addition of the plastic reinforcing member to the tube does not increase the standard dimensions of an acorn tube.

It will be apparent that the plastic reinforcing member could envelope and enclose the outer I! and II. and that such a variation would clearly fall within the scope of the present invention.

Wherever the word "plurality" occurs in the speciflcation and claims, said word is to be understood a meaning "two or more."

I am aware that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or thereof, and I therefore desire the present description to be considered in all respects as illus-' trative and not restrictive, reference being bad to the appended claims rather going description to indicate the scope of th invention 1 What is claimed is:

y l. Inan electron discharge tube the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope, a

reinforcing member of poly ene attached direetly to the ing therefrom as external contact prongs.

maybeappliedinthesamemannerasessential attributes than to the fore-- 2. In an electron discharge tube the combinaber and projecting therefrom as external contion of an hermetically sealed glass envelope provided with an external press, a reinforcing member of polystyrene plastic attached directly to the outer surface of said press, relatively stiii' conductors sealed through said press and through said reinforcing member, said reinforcing member compressively embracing said press, and said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom as external contact prongs.

3. In an electron discharge tube, the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope; a plurality of conductors sealed through diflerent parts of the wall of said envelope; and a reinforcing member attached directly to the outer surface of said envelope and compressively embracing the parts of said envelope through which said conductor are sealed, said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom a external contact prongs.

4. In an electron discharge tube, the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope; a plurality of lead-in conductors spaced from one another around said envelope and sealed through the wall of said envelope in a transverse plane of the latter; and a reinforcing member encircling said envelope and compressively embracing said envelope and those parts thereof through which said conductor are sealed, said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcingmember and projecting therefrom as external contact prongs.

5. In an electron discharge tube, the combitact prongs.

8. In an electron discharge tube the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope,

a reinforcing member of moldable material atnation of an hermetically sealed glass envelope;

a plurality of conductors spaced from one another around said envelope and sealed through the lateral wall of said envelope in a transverse plane of the latter; and a reinforcing member attached directly to the outer surface of said envelope and compressively embracing said envelope and the parts thereof through which said conductors are sealed, said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom as external contact prongs.

6; In an electron discharge tube the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope, a conductor sealed through the top wall of said envelope, a conductor sealed through the bottom wall of said envelope, a plurality of conductors sealed through the lateral wall of said envelope in spaced relation around the latter in a transverse plane of said envelope, and a reinforcing member directly attached to and compressively embracing said envelope including the parts thereof through which said conductors are sealed, said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom as external contact prongs.

7. In an electron discharge tube, the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope; a plurality of relatively flexible sealing wires sealed through the wall of said envelope in spaced relation around the latter in a transverse plane thereof, a reinforcing member attached directly to the outer surface of said envelope and encircling and compressively embracing said envelope and the parts thereof through which said sealing wires are sealed; and a relatively stiff conductor joined to each of said sealing wires within said reinforcing member, said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing memtached directly to the outer surface of said envelope, relatively stiff conductors sealed through the part of said envelope to which said reinforcing member is attached and through said reinforcing member, said reinforcing member compressively embracing the part of said envelope to which it is attached and said conductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom as external contact prongs.

9. In an electron discharge tube the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope provided with an external press, a reinforcing member attached directly to the outer surface of said press and compressively embracing the same,

and aligned relatively stiff conductors sealed,

through said press and through said reinforcing member, alternate conductors being bent laterally out of alignment in one direction and intervening conductors being bent out of alignment in the opposite direction, the free ends of said conductors being then bent back into parallelism with their original alignment, saldconductors being securely anchored in said reinforcing member and their free ends projecting from said reinforcing member as external contact prongs in staggered relation in at least two parallel planes.

10. In an electron discharge tube the combination of an hermetically sealed glass envelope provided with an external press, a reinforcing member attached directly to the outer surface of said press and compressively embracing the same, and aligned relatively flexible sealing wires sealed through said press, alternate sealing wires being bent laterally out of alignment in one direction and intervening sealing wires being bent laterally out of alignment in the opposite direction, within said reinforcing member, the free ends of said wire being joined to relatively stifl lead-in conductors securely anchored in said reinforcing member and projecting therefrom in staggered relation in at least two parallel planes as external contact prongs.

NORMAN B. KRIM.

REFERENCES man The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 127,826 Hoffman June 17, 1941 1,060,025 Allen Jr. Feb. 21, 1928 1,991,174 Rose Jr. Feb. 12, 1935 2,207,217 Fodor July 9, 1940 1,301,079 Van Keuren Apr. 15, 1919 1,224,030 Smith Apr. 24, 1917 1,905,843 Foulke Apr. 25. 1933 2,337,744 Garstang Dec. 28, 1943 1,586,122 Shaw May 25, 1926 2,330,838 Nelson Oct. 5, 1943 2,183,177 Novotny June 20, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 386,051 Germany Dec. ,1, 1923 

